Self-setting animal-trap



m5 Model.)

. F. E. KRAUTH.

SELF SETTING ANIMAL TRAP.

Nq. 572,811. Patented Dec. 8,.1896.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS. I

. WITNESSES:

1:0 vuoroumou wnsumsmn o c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

FERDINAND E. KRAUTH, OF HEB-RON, NORTH DAKOTA.

SELF-SETTING ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IEatent No. 572,81 1, datedDecember 8, 1896. Application filed July 16, 1896. Serial No. 599,352.(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it kn own that I, FERDINAND E. KRAUTH, of Hebron, in the county ofMorton and State of NorthDakota, have invented a new and ImprovedSelf-Setting Animal-Trap, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description. V

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedself-setting animal-trap which is simple and durable in construction,very effective in operation, and more especially designed for trappingmice, rats, gophers, and like small animals.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improvement with parts in section.Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the combination gate and bait-receptacle.

The improved animal-trap is provided with a box A, made of wood, sheetmetal, glass, or other suitable material, the box being provided with alongitudinal partition A, dividing the box into two compartments A and Aof which the latter forms the entrance for the animals, and thecompartment A finally receives and holds the imprisoned animals.

The two compartments A and A are connected with each other by an openingA formed in the lower part of the partition A, and this opening leadsinto a cylindrical casing B, made of sheet metal and extending into thecompartment A the innerend of the casing being formed with prongs bentinwardly to permit the animal to pass through the easing into thecompartment A but to prevent its return from the latter into thecompartment A In the compartment A is arranged alongitudinally-extending trap-door 0, made L- shaped in cross-sectionand having its pivot I.) journaled in the ends of the box A, the pivotbeing located at the junction of the two members of the trap-door.

.The trapdoor extends from one end of the compartment A to within ashort distance of the other end to permit of providing in this end ofthe compartment a sufficient space A for the bait-receptacle F, adaptedto receive the bait.

The bait-receptacle F is secured or formed on the back of the feed-gateII, extending vertically in the compartment A at the inner end of thetrapdoor O. The feed-gate II is f ulcrunied at its upper end at H to thesides of the compartment A and near the lower end is formed a lug orprojection H adapted to form a rest for the lower member of thetrap-door 0 when the latter is in an uppermost position, as indicated inFig. 1.

The feed-gate His formed with slots H which open into thebait-receptacle F to permit the animal passing along the trap-door toreach the bait. The bait-receptacle is formed in its outer side withslots F, visible from the outside of the box A through an opening A inthe end of the box, as shown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement the bait inthe receptacle can be seen by the animals to induce them to enter thetrap to reach the bait.

Now by reference to Fig. 3 it will be see that the feed-gate H is freeto swing outwardly whenever the animal pushes on the feed-gate in orderto' reach the feed or bait contained in the receptacle F, and the animalin doing so forces the feed-gate to swing sufliciently far outward tomove the lug H from under the lower-member of the trap-door O. In d0-ing so the trap-door O is caused to swing down ward to deliver theanimal into the lower part of the compartment A from which the onlyoutlet is the opening A connecting with the compartment A The animalthus trapped in the lower part of the compartment A in escapingtherefrom passes into the compartment A to be finally imprisoned.

The top of the compartment A is preferably open, with the exception ofthat portion which extends over the space A and the front end of thesaid compartment is also open in its upper portion to permit the animalsto readily pass up on thetrap-door 0, held in a set position by the lugH of the feed-gate, as previously explained.

The extreme lower portion of the feed-gate H is curved outwardly, sothat the operator in resetting the trap-door 0 causes the feedgate toreadily swing sufficiently outward to permit the lower member of:thetrap-door to pass the lug H after which the feed-gate swings back tobring the latter under the lower member of the trap-door.

A set-screw in the back of the box A serves to limit the upward swingingmotion of the upper member of the trap-door O to insure a proper settingofthe said door.

If the device is used for catching rats, the bottom of the box may beomitted and the trap set overapail filled withwater, so that door'O tothe water to drownthe animals.

The compartment A ispreferably provided with a removable lid forremoving the animals'imprisoned in the-compartment A The gate H andbait-receptacle are preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal,cut so as to permit of bending up the bottom, sides, and ends'of thereceptacle, as will be readily understood by reference'to Fig. 4.

I-Iayin g thus described my invention, I claim asnew and desire-tosecure by Letters Patent 1. Ananimal-trap, comprising. a box having twocompartments, a passage establish. ing communication between the.compartmentsnear the bot-tom, a guard at said passage, in onecompartment, an L-shapedtilting trap in the other compartment, having aweight to-return it to normal position, and-a gate pivotedadjacent to-the inner end of the trap, to swing in the verticaLplane, and having atthe front sidean integral lug engaging and supporting the trap and atthe opposite side an integral feed-box, the gate further having openingsat said box, substantially as described.

ing two compartments, a passage establishin g communication between thecompartments near the bottom, a guard at said passage, in onecompartment, an L-shaped tilting trap in the other compartment, having'a weight to return it to normal position, and a gate pivoted adjacentto the inner end of the trap, to swing in the vertical plane, and havingat thefront side an integral lug engaging and supporting the trap and atthe opposite side an integral feed-box, the gate further having openingsat said box, and the box having an opening in its end-wall'at the feed-.box, substantially as describedthe animals-are delivereddirectly by thetrapingtwo compartments connected with each other at their lowerportions, a trap-door made L shape in cross-section and fulcrumed .inone of the said'compartments, afeed-gate provided with abait-receptacle, access to which is had by slots in the said gate, thesaid feedgate-beingpivoted at its upper end 3. An animal-trap,comprising a box havin the said box and extending downwardly at the endof the said trap-door, the said jgate being for-med with a lug adaptedteengage one endof the lower member of the trap-door to hold the latterin a set position, a set-screw in the said box to engage-the uppermember of the said trap door topermit gof properly setting the.latter-relative to the isaid lug,.and a weighted handle on the up- .permember of the said trap-door, substantially as shown and described.

FERDINAND E. KRAUTH.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES WEIGEL,

A. H. CHASE.

2. A11 animal-trap, comprising a box hav-

